Successful prolapse stories?

[Remy87]

hi! I gave birth 12 weeks ago and am horrified to realise I have a prolapse, confirmed by GP who said it’s “not too bad” and that I should be able to do pelvic floor exercises to help. Has anyone successfully done this / reversed or have any advice? I am also booked in for “mummy mot” in few weeks. I would love to think I could go back to normal-ish - especially so I can have another baby!

I had a prolapse after a vaginal birth and felt symptoms within days of giving birth. At nearly two years postpartum, I don't have any symptoms at all anymore. By around three months postpartum I had a big improvement, I could be on my feet and walk all day with very mild symptoms while very early on I found walking for more than ten minutes or carrying my baby extremely uncomfortable. By five/six months postpartum I rarely had symptoms. From around six months to eighteen months postpartum I only had symptoms during ovulation and they were incredibly mild. Some days, I don't even remember that I have a prolapse anymore, but I do try to keep on top of my pelvic floor health through pelvic floor exercises, diet and pilates.

It's nearly impossible to reverse a prolapse, but it is incredibly common - most women who have given birth vaginally have one but have no idea that they do as they are asymptomatic. The diagnosis can feel like the end of the world, but I promise you it's not. Also a good pelvic floor physio can help you with things like pessaries if you need them. And lastly, the severity of your symptoms does not reflect the severity of your prolapse. I've been told that there isn't a correlation, some women have severe prolapses and zero symptoms and others have grade one minor prolapses and horrible symptoms.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply @Blueflowerpowerand i’m glad to hear that yours is much better! My GP said similar about symptoms etc, am keen to see a physio to understand more. I don’t think I actually really have “symptoms” other than I can see a lump - is that what you mean?

Can I join in? The dr didn’t seem bothered. I cant actually find the muscles I need to do kegels, and it is getting worse.
blueflower can I ask what the symptoms are too?
also have other challenges, baby was 11Lb.

I had one after my first DC. I went on to have another child (18mo gap) and it didn't get any worse. They're now preschool/school age (and I stopped breastfeeding, which can be relevant) and day to day I don't notice it - I can walk long distances, go horse riding, lift and carry 20kg (older child, sacks of compost etc) without issue. That's with just doing some pelvic floor exercises and some Pilates a couple of years ago to help core strength

I think if I was to do much high impact exercise - running, for example - I would notice, but honestly I didn't make the time to keep up with the Pilates etc. I want to sign up for some runs once my youngest starts school so I guess I'll find out and probably have to go back and strengthen up a bit more! But just know it can get a lot better, it takes time and you have some options

@Remy87 @Healthynow the symptom I had was a heavy dragging feeling, and at times it felt a bit like there was a golf ball in my vagina. I would feel it when carrying my baby or being on my feet for any length of time. Thankfully, this has all disappeared with time and pelvic floor exercises. Seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist will really help if you're struggling to do pelvic floor exercises. There are machines like Kegel 8s which you can buy to help until you can locate your pfm.

I'm glad you're not feeling symptoms, they can be quite debilitating in the early days.